OT - Help on First trip to Scotland May 2015

[MClutterbuck]

Four of us are planning our first trip ever to Scotland. We dont expect to be back in a long time, so we are including courses from different regions rather than concentrating on one, and will not mind the long drives. I also want to accomodate certain course requests from some of my friends that are not into architecture. Any suggestions, additions or deletions are welcome. Thanks!

1. Muirfield.
2. North Berwick
3. Renaissance (maybe)

4. Old
5. Kingsbarns
6. New or Castle Course

7. Cruden Bay
8. Trump or Royal Aberdeen (maybe)

9. Royal Dornoch
10. Castle Stuart
11. Nairn

[Greg Taylor]

The obvious comment is your skipping the East coast for going way up North.

Being picky you could make a case for doing it all but what you've got listed is pretty darn good.

No Prestwick etc... That's all I can add.

Greg

[Jaeger Kovich]

I'd rather play Brora well in the Highlands than Nairn... Nairn will kinda blend in after the rest, Brora will stand out as a unique experience.

[Tim Johnson]

Your options are limitless, especially if you don't mind the long drives and if you plan properly, there are not many of them. More so than Ireland but you can still cover Scotland and not miss anything. In 2007 we did the following and did not miss a day of golf nor did we feel like we wasted our time on the road. Land in Glasgow, drive/ferry to The Machrie
The Machrie- 2 days golf- leave after round and in Machrihanish by 6 or 7
Machrihanish- 2 days- leave after 930 tee time-In Dornoch by 6
Dornoch- 2 days leave after round in Aberdeen by around 4 or 5
Cruden Bay
Panmure
StAndrews Jubilee
TOC
Gullane #1
Murifield 2 rounds
Regrettably we passed on golf on the Friday but we should have picked another course, flew out Saturday

The reality is, at least for me and my dad, we love the drives, great scenery/towns and aside for the drive to Dornoch, they are not that bad at all. In 2 weeks, you can cover Scotland if you plan properly. Tee off around 10 am and the choices are yours. In Ireland, you can cover a good chunk of it with less time between courses but either way, you are playing great links courses so it gives you the motivation.

And yes, we should have played Brora.

[Jud_T]

I'd certainly try to see Carnoustie while in  St. Andrews, perhaps at the expense of the New.  And I'd second trying to get to see Prestwick if you're going all out.  I hope you're allowing enough time for all the travel.  Most here would prefer 36 at certain venues and less travel.

[Andy Shulman]

Looks like a very solid list.  Other than the aforementioned Prestwick and Carnoustie, I'd consider at least one course where you'll find more real Scottish folks than touring golfers.  Among those I've played that I'd nominate are Elie, Lundin Links, Brora and Golspie.

[Jon Wiggett]

How long will you be in Scotland and what sort of experience are you looking for?

Jon

[MClutterbuck]

Thank you all for the comments as well as the private messages. All very helpful. This will be a 9 day Scotland only trip. We might have to drop 1 course. Hope to do Ireland some other year. Thanks again.

[Tim Johnson]

Forgot to add, if you are travelling in May, no worries about the tourist golfers, they haven't started their travels yet. You will see higher a higher amount of tourists in the big name courses (TOC, Muirfield, Dornoch etc) but the others will generally just be members. We had our choice of tee times available and the courses were wide open.

Also, if possible, stay the Golf Hotel in Dornoch(not sure if it is still called that) after grab a 7 iron and some balls, it stays light until 10, just walk the holes and hit some shots, my dad and I did that for a couple of hours and it was a blast.

[Chris Wirthwein]

I strongly suggest you skip any of the newly built courses. You can play newly built courses in America. I've played several of the newer/American courses in Scotland and Ireland and have regretted it. Why travel all that way if not to play authentic, old, charming golf courses. There are hundreds of old, fun and fascinating courses in Scotland, most of which few Americans have ever heard of or played. Some of my most treasured times in Scotland have been on courses such as those - Tarland, Bishopshire, Stonehaven, Buchanan Castle, Fort Rose & Rosemarkie. Every moment you will have there has the potential to be very special; do not waste it on modern reproductions.

[Ru Macdonald]

I like the fact you have based yourself in a couple of destinations - too many try to drive and golf too much on first trip. Any questions please ask. Play Royal Aberdeen and enjoy a few days in St Andrews and soak it up. You sorted bookings for old and Muirfield?

[Bill_McBride]

I am also planning a trip to Scotland in May 2015.   Does anyone know the schedule for mats on the Old Course?

[Carl Johnson]

My suggestion is not to get too hung up on particular courses.  All you list, and many more (west coast as well as east), will suit.  Just go and play and have fun.

[Ru Macdonald]

Mats are used by the Links trust November to March.

[Ally Mcintosh]

My suggestion is not to get too hung up on particular courses.  All you list, and many more (west coast as well as east), will suit.  Just go and play and have fun.

I think this is good advice.

[Bill_McBride]

Mats are used by the Links trust November to March.

I know that's the general rule, but I was wondering about the mat schedule ahead of the Open.  Will they be in use in May or June.....

[Howard Riefs]

I am also planning a trip to Scotland in May 2015.   Does anyone know the schedule for mats on the Old Course?

I would contact the Links Trust to ask. They are quite responsive when I had questions about the course availability for fall 2015:

http://www.standrews.com/Play/Busy-Dates

Be sure to also look at the "busy dates" that are posted on their website:

http://www.standrews.com/Play/Busy-Dates

Regardless, with the course closed for a full month (June 20-30; July 1-20) for the Open, late spring and summer tee times will be at a premium. 

[Bill_McBride]

I am also planning a trip to Scotland in May 2015.   Does anyone know the schedule for mats on the Old Course?

I would contact the Links Trust to ask. They are quite responsive when I had questions about the course availability for fall 2015:

http://www.standrews.com/Play/Busy-Dates

Be sure to also look at the "busy dates" that are posted on their website:

http://www.standrews.com/Play/Busy-Dates

Regardless, with the course closed for a full month (June 20-30; July 1-20) for the Open, late spring and summer tee times will be at a premium. 

Agreed, sent an email a few minutes ago.

[Chris_Hufnagel]

Regardless, with the course closed for a full month (June 20-30; July 1-20) for the Open, late spring and summer tee times will be at a premium. 

Agree with Howard on this...

Bart Bradley is on here quite frequently and has a tremendous amount of knowledge in planning and coordinating trips to Scotland and Ireland. 

I was working with him on a possible Scotland trip in summer 2015, a non-negotiable for my group was a round on the Old Course given for some, this would be a once-in-a-lifetime trip. 

Based on that qualifier, he encouraged us to consider a different year based on the point Howard mentioned and the fact that spring and early-summer rounds would most likely be played off of mats.

I agree a note to the Links Trust is the best plan prior to formalizing your plans.

Have fun, Chris.

[Jud_T]

I strongly suggest you skip any of the newly built courses. You can play newly built courses in America. I've played several of the newer/American courses in Scotland and Ireland and have regretted it.

Chris,

I would agree with this personally, but it's really a matter of personal preference, utility function, budget and time.

[Bart Bradley]

Regardless, with the course closed for a full month (June 20-30; July 1-20) for the Open, late spring and summer tee times will be at a premium. 

Agree with Howard on this...

Bart Bradley is on here quite frequently and has a tremendous amount of knowledge in planning and coordinating trips to Scotland and Ireland. 

I was working with him on a possible Scotland trip in summer 2015, a non-negotiable for my group was a round on the Old Course given for some, this would be a once-in-a-lifetime trip. 

Based on that qualifier, he encouraged us to consider a different year based on the point Howard mentioned and the fact that spring and early-summer rounds would most likely be played off of mats.

I agree a note to the Links Trust is the best plan prior to formalizing your plans.

Have fun, Chris.

Thanks Chris

As of now, the links trust believes that mats may or may not be required leading up to the June closing.  I am in Scotland now.  Based on my personal experience, 2015 is a very poor year to plan on playing the Old.  I wouldn't count on anything as a certainty.  The  Trust already suspended the normal mechanism for obtaining  advance tee times and ruled out Sept entirely. Given 5 more guaranteed weeks of course closure, that leaves very little wiggle room during May-Sept.  There is also the problem of St Andrews Univ graduation which nearly eliminates another week in the June schedule.  Whatever they say now may mean nothing when next year comes around.

If the Old is a must, I would recommend considering delaying until 2016.

Plenty of great Scottish golf outside of St. Andrews too if you can plan multiple Scotland visits.

Good luck.

Bart

[Brad Wilbur]

My wife and I visited St Andrews in late May of 2010, before The Open.  No mats were in use then, so it is a possibility they might not be in use next year at the same time.

[Bill Gayne]

Four of us are planning our first trip ever to Scotland. We dont expect to be back in a long time,

If links golf reaches into your soul you will be back much sooner and more often than you can believe.

[Bill_McBride]

I had an email from the Links Trust staff today telling me that mats will not be in use beyond the regular schedule. 

[Ru Macdonald]

I had an email from the Links Trust staff today telling me that mats will not be in use beyond the regular schedule. 

>too right!